PHOTOS: Move-In Day 2008

Catawba College's fall semester classes in the traditional day program began Thursday, August 21, and preliminary projections indicate close to 900 students will be enrolled. This figure includes returning students as well as first-time and transfer students. A final enrollment tally will not be available until after the drop/add period concludes August 27.

Three hundred and one new students, members of the Class of 2012, join an estimated 580 returning students in the day program. The new students bring with them the highest average SAT score in Catawba's history, 1062.

Dr. Michael Bitzer, dean of admissions, said the higher SAT averages indicate that Catawba has been successful in its move to a more select institution. Moving from a select to a more select institution was one of the College's goals under a strategic plan set into motion by former president, Dr. Robert E. Knott, who retired May 31 after six years in office.

Six hundred and forty students are living on campus this academic year, with all first-year students housed in either Salisbury-Rowan Residence Hall or Woodson Residence Hall.  Resident students will find wireless connectivity across campus as well as a wired Internet connection in their residence hall rooms.

Some Catawba athletes, including members of the football team, moved onto campus August 2 and 3.  Resident assistants returned to campus August 8 and spent a week in training.  A large number of first-year students moved into the residence halls on August 16 so they could begin a five-day orientation period before the first day of classes.

Catawba begins its 157th academic year with its 21st president, Dr. W. Craig Turner, who joined the institution June 1. Dr. Turner came to Catawba from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, where he had served as that institution's president since June 1, 2001.

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PHOTOS: Move-In Day 2008